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Slipstream space: Difference between revisions
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The [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]] allowed human ships to tunnel into Slipstream space, called by technical humans "Shaw-Fujikawa Space,"<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 141''</ref> after the scientists who proved its existence. Slipspace is a domain with alternate physical laws, allowing faster-than-light travel without relativistic side-effects i.e., the occupants do not "warp" time, despite their super-luminal speed. But however fast it may appear, faster-than-light travel is by no means instantaneous; "short" jumps routinely take up to two months, and "long" jumps can last six months or more for the crew. The time it takes to normal-space observers, however, varies substantially - one cannot depend on the same amount of time passing in Slipstream space and normal space. These variations are typically measured in weeks or months, and are unpredictable. A fleet that transitions to Slipstream space at the same time may or may not transition back to normal space at the same time. Furthermore, if ship A and ship B both enter Slipstream space at the same time and exit at the same time, the crew on ship A could have experienced a longer journey subjectively, and the crew of ship A could, in fact, be a week older than that of ship B despite appearances in normal space. | The [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]] allowed human ships to tunnel into Slipstream space, called by technical humans "Shaw-Fujikawa Space,"<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 141''</ref> after the scientists who proved its existence. Slipspace is a domain with alternate physical laws, allowing faster-than-light travel without relativistic side-effects i.e., the occupants do not "warp" time, despite their super-luminal speed. But however fast it may appear, faster-than-light travel is by no means instantaneous; "short" jumps routinely take up to two months, and "long" jumps can last six months or more for the crew. The time it takes to normal-space observers, however, varies substantially - one cannot depend on the same amount of time passing in Slipstream space and normal space. These variations are typically measured in weeks or months, and are unpredictable. A fleet that transitions to Slipstream space at the same time may or may not transition back to normal space at the same time. Furthermore, if ship A and ship B both enter Slipstream space at the same time and exit at the same time, the crew on ship A could have experienced a longer journey subjectively, and the crew of ship A could, in fact, be a week older than that of ship B despite appearances in normal space. | ||
In addition to temporal anomalies, UNSC ships aren't able to jump with exact precision. A ship may transition back to normal space | In addition to temporal anomalies, UNSC ships aren't able to jump with exact precision. A ship may transition back to normal space millions of kilometers from its intended destination.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 136''</ref> As a result, UNSC ships often transition in and out of slipspace outside star systems, far from any celestial bodies. In-system jumps are also not generally attempted by the UNSC due to the dangers present.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 104''</ref> A notable exception of this is the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}, that was able to make a precision jump into [[High Charity (Structure)|High Charity]]. This may be due to an improvement on the ship due to the recent capture of Covenant Slipspace technology, the [[Gravemind]] adjusting it or simply luck.<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''' ''level [[Gravemind (Level)|Gravemind]]''</ref> | ||
[[File:Covenant_Assault_Carrier_FanArt.jpg|thumb|A [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] [[Assault Carrier]] opens a Slipspace vortex.]] | [[File:Covenant_Assault_Carrier_FanArt.jpg|thumb|A [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] [[Assault Carrier]] opens a Slipspace vortex.]] | ||
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==Velocities== | ==Velocities== | ||
Slipspace velocities are | Slipspace velocities are generally dependent on the ship's momentum on transition, as the Slipspace drive itself does not generate thrust.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''Chapter 1'', Page 23''</ref> As a result, ships that are faster in normal space, such as [[corvette]]s, usually travel faster in the Slipstream as well. | ||
Human Slipspace velocities are far slower than Covenant | Human Slipspace velocities are far slower than Covenant ones, only able to carry a ship at a speed of approximately 2.625 light years per day <ref group="note">Velocity=Distance/time (V=[[Reach|10.5 light years]]/4 days=2.625 l/d)</ref>, while Covenant ships can reach 912 light years per day,<ref group="note">Velocity=Distance/time (V=[[Zeta Doradus|38 light years]]/1 hour=38 l/h or 912 l/d)</ref> a vastly superior rate to UNSC Slipspace technology. The capture of a Covenant Slipspace drive by [[John-117]] and survivors of the [[Fall of Reach]] and survivors of the events at [[Installation 04|Halo]] may have increased the capabilities of these Human Slipspace technologies. | ||
One example of the differences between speeds is comparing the Covenant cruiser ''"[[Ascendant Justice]]"'' with the [[UNSC]] [[Halcyon-class]] cruiser {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. It took several weeks for the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to get from Reach to Installation 04, yet the ''Ascendant Justice'' could get from Installation 04 to Reach within thirteen hours. | One example of the differences between speeds is comparing the Covenant cruiser ''"[[Ascendant Justice]]"'' with the [[UNSC]] [[Halcyon-class]] cruiser {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. It took several weeks for the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to get from Reach to Installation 04, yet the ''Ascendant Justice'' could get from Installation 04 to Reach within thirteen hours. | ||
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Prior to 2552, entering slipspace from the gravity well of a planet had never been attempted, either by the UNSC or the Covenant. The effect of gravity upon the creation of a slipspace entrance usually collapsed UNSC-generated holes, and was assumed to be the same with Covenant technology. The flagship ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'', however, was able to escape from a gas giant's gravity well after [[Cortana]] realized that it had a far higher resolution of the quantum filaments that allowed a transition, and she was able to compensate for the gravity. Subsequently, the ability was transmitted by a Covenant AI, and the Prophet of Regret used an in-atmosphere slipspace jump to escape [[Earth]], with the resulting shockwave dealing devastating damage to the city of [[New Mombasa]]. Slipspace jumping inside an atmosphere, however, is extremely dangerous to the surrounding people and objects. When a ship transitions into normal space in-atmosphere, the air that was there is pushed aside, causing a massive shockwave centered at the ship. If a ship transitions to Slipstream space inside an atmosphere, on the other hand, it leaves an empty space that air quickly rushes to fill, causing an implosion. | Prior to 2552, entering slipspace from the gravity well of a planet had never been attempted, either by the UNSC or the Covenant. The effect of gravity upon the creation of a slipspace entrance usually collapsed UNSC-generated holes, and was assumed to be the same with Covenant technology. The flagship ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'', however, was able to escape from a gas giant's gravity well after [[Cortana]] realized that it had a far higher resolution of the quantum filaments that allowed a transition, and she was able to compensate for the gravity. Subsequently, the ability was transmitted by a Covenant AI, and the Prophet of Regret used an in-atmosphere slipspace jump to escape [[Earth]], with the resulting shockwave dealing devastating damage to the city of [[New Mombasa]]. Slipspace jumping inside an atmosphere, however, is extremely dangerous to the surrounding people and objects. When a ship transitions into normal space in-atmosphere, the air that was there is pushed aside, causing a massive shockwave centered at the ship. If a ship transitions to Slipstream space inside an atmosphere, on the other hand, it leaves an empty space that air quickly rushes to fill, causing an implosion. | ||
Entering and exiting the slipstream is normally only attempted by ships of large mass, their gravity wells stabilizing slipspace to a degree that allows safe passage. Small ships, such as dropships, do not possess the same gravity and are placed under considerably more stress than a warship, able to crack the hull and buckle reinforcing struts.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]'''</ref> It is not impossible, and UNSC slipstream monitoring probes make the transitions all the time, but require heavy reinforcement to survive the stresses, and are unmanned, having no need to protect internal occupants.<ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''</ref> Specialized craft like [[Long Range Stealth Orbital Insertion Pod]]s can make the transition, but are still an extremely uncomfortable ride.<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 13''</ref> A Slipspace-to-normal space transition has been successfully attempted by a Spirit dropship, but it had been extensively equipped with Titanium-A battleplates, lead, and carbon-molybdenum steel I-beams. | Entering and exiting the slipstream is normally only attempted by ships of large mass, their gravity wells stabilizing slipspace to a degree that allows safe passage. Small ships, such as dropships, do not possess the same gravity and are placed under considerably more stress than a warship, able to crack the hull and buckle reinforcing struts.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page ??''</ref> It is not impossible, and UNSC slipstream monitoring probes make the transitions all the time, but require heavy reinforcement to survive the stresses, and are unmanned, having no need to protect internal occupants.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page ??''</ref> Specialized craft like [[Long Range Stealth Orbital Insertion Pod]]s can make the transition, but are still an extremely uncomfortable ride.<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 13''</ref> A Slipspace-to-normal space transition has been successfully attempted by a Spirit dropship, but it had been extensively equipped with Titanium-A battleplates, lead, and carbon-molybdenum steel I-beams. | ||
==Communications== | ==Communications== | ||
The [[Forerunner]]s were somehow capable of advanced message carrier waves in slipspace. This way, messages and memorandums could travel at great speeds throughout the Forerunner empire. Cortana was able to use this technology to declare codes [[Bandersnatch]] and [[Hydra (code)|Hydra]] during the [[Battle of Earth]] and the [[Battle of Installation 05]] in close-knitted timing and symmetry. | The [[Forerunner]]s were somehow capable of advanced message carrier waves in slipspace. This way, messages and memorandums could travel at great speeds throughout the Forerunner empire. Cortana was able to use this technology to declare codes [[Bandersnatch]] and [[Hydra (code)|Hydra]] during the [[Battle of Earth]] and the [[Battle of Installation 05]] in close-knitted timing and symmetry. | ||
The closest technology the UNSC has been able to create like this is the [[Slipspace COM Launcher]]. Even then this technology is limited as there were only three in existence before 2552: one on [[Reach]], one on [[Onyx]] and one on [[Earth]]. As of the conclusion of the [[Human-Covenant War]], both the devices on Reach and Onyx have been destroyed, with the fate of the Earth device unknown. Because all communications can take years or decades to travel the light years between colonized star systems, [[UNSC]] civilians use "Slipstream packets".<ref>http://transmit.ilovebees.com/surveillance_archive/week6_subject3.wav</ref><ref>[[Axon Clips Chapter 6#Kamal|'''Axon Clips''': ''Chapter 6'']]</ref> They use the slipstream to travel and to send communication signals significantly faster than otherwise possible, allowing faster communication between colonies. Another method of interstellar communication also exists, known as the [[Slipbeacon]].<ref name="blood"/> | The closest technology the UNSC has been able to create like this is the [[Slipspace COM Launcher]]. Even then this technology is limited as there were only three in existence before 2552: one on [[Reach]], one on [[Onyx]] and one on [[Earth]]. As of the conclusion of the [[Human-Covenant War]], both the devices on Reach and Onyx have been destroyed, with the fate of the Earth device unknown. Because all communications can take years or decades to travel the light years between colonized star systems, [[UNSC]] civilians use "Slipstream packets".<ref>[http://transmit.ilovebees.com/surveillance_archive/week6_subject3.wav '''i love bees''': ''week6_subject3.wav'']</ref><ref>[[Axon Clips Chapter 6#Kamal|'''Axon Clips''': ''Chapter 6'']]</ref> They use the slipstream to travel and to send communication signals significantly faster than otherwise possible, allowing faster communication between colonies. Another method of interstellar communication also exists, known as the [[Slipbeacon]].<ref name="blood"/> | ||
==Slipspace Wake== | ==Slipspace Wake== | ||